Newsletter No. 3: Short Update on My Training for Bible Translation
Dear friends,
Did you know that over 7,000 languages are spoken around the world, yet the Bible has been translated into fewer than 800 of them? That means that while you and I can open the Bible anytime we want, over 1.5 billion people cannot. Among them were the Chilambya people in northern Malawi. Until recently, they had never held a Bible in their hands. But when the Scriptures were finally translated for them, the entire community celebrated together, and one person, Esther Mwale, said: “It felt like heaven touched earth.” Every translation is more than words on a page. It brings God’s Word into the hearts of people who have waited generations to hear it in their own language.
Translating Jonah 3:4
Further Training for Bible Translation Work
Last year, I officially joined Wycliffe Germany, and, God willing, they will send me to South Africa next year to help communities translate the Bible into their own languages. But before that can happen, I need further training. Translating the Bible is not just about swapping words; it’s more complex than it seems, which is why extensive preparatory training is necessary.
By God’s grace, I was awarded a scholarship to do a Master’s in “Biblical Exegesis” at Wheaton College near Chicago (USA), which I began in September 2025. The program focuses on the Bible’s original languages (Hebrew and Greek) and teaches how to interpret and translate the Bible accurately and faithfully.
Last semester, we translated the book of Jonah from the Old Testament, originally written in Hebrew. In Jonah 3:4, Jonah announces to Nineveh: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.” The Hebrew verb translated “overturned” is הָפַךְ (haphakh), which means “to turn upside down.” This verb, however, can appear in different Hebrew stems and take on different meanings. In one stem (Qal), it means “to destroy,” while in another stem (Niphal), it means “to be transformed.” In Jonah 3:4, the verb appears in the Niphal stem. This suggests a wordplay: Jonah hopes for Nineveh’s destruction, but God’s intention is transformation. The city is indeed “turned upside down,” yet not through judgment and destruction, but through repentance and transformation. How would you translate this wordplay into your language?
During my first semester at Wheaton College.
I got engaged!
Three years ago, while studying Theology in Cape Town, I met White, who lived next door to me at college. He is originally from Malawi, so after finishing my first semester at Wheaton in December 2025, I spent my Christmas break with him and his family in Malawi, where we got engaged!
I enjoyed meeting many of White’s family and friends and exploring his home country. Malawi is a beautiful, green, mountainous country in southeastern Africa, and its people are very welcoming, which is why it is known as “the warm heart of Africa”.
Fun fact: Although Malawi is a small country (it fits 10 times into South Africa), 14 languages are spoken there, and only 3 of them have a full Bible.
I returned to the US in early January to continue my studies, and White and I are planning our wedding for December 2026 in Cape Town. Please pray for us a we think more and plan for this big event.
Christmas Service at Mafunde Africa Evangelical Church in Makanjira (Blantyre, Malawi)
You Can Make a Difference
Part of my preparatory work involves finding friends and partners who want to help bring God’s Word to people in Africa. Before I can start my work in Bible translation next year, I need to raise about 4.000€/month and at the moment, my support covers 15% of that. If you would like to become part of the work of Bible translation (and make heaven touch earth for people in Africa), you can do so by supporting me financially here. Thank you very much!
I am so grateful to everyone who is already partnering with me! ☺️
Prayer Points
Thanksgiving: Thank God for
The opportunity to do a Master’s program that prepares me well for work in Bible translation.
Time spent in Malawi to meet White’s family and friends.
Three new supporters who have joined my team over the last couple of months.
Requests:
Wedding preparations to go smoothly.
That my team of supporters would continue to grow.
That I continue to trust God within all the accomplishments and challenges.
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